Chief banana packer at the Hope Vale Banana venture Phyllis Gibson and her grandson Dwayne Bowen try to rescue bananas from the Indigenous venture, which has been wiped out by Cyclone Ita. Picture: Brian Cassey34 of 100

Ex Cairns to the COURIER MAIL 13.04.2014 Cyclone Ita - HOPEVALE - AFTERMATH - PICS BRIAN CASSEY 40 year Hopevale residents Elder Roy McIvor and wife Thelma beside the massive snapped tree next to their house ... it fell the right way and Thelna said it was Gods work.35 of 100

The damaged West Coast Hotel - the "Middle Pub" of the three in Chatlotte Street Cooktown.66 of 100

A SES worker takes a picture of one one the few homes to be severely damaged, which lost its roof as a result of the category 4 cyclone Ita , Cooktown , far north QLD67 of 100

The roof of this Cooktown home was torn off and now lays in the yard. Pic: Peter Michael.68 of 100

Dave Austin emerges from the local pub, where he sheltered in the kitchen , which lost its roof as a result of the category 4 cyclone Ita , Cooktown , far north QLD69 of 100

The roof sits in the garden of one the few homes to be severely damaged, which lost its roof as a result of the category 4 cyclone Ita , Cooktown , far north QLD70 of 100

Dave Austin emerges from the local pub, where he sheltered in the kitchen , which lost its roof as a result of the category 4 cyclone Ita , Cooktown , far north QLD71 of 100

A photographer takes a picture of one one the few homes to be severely damaged, which lost its roof as a result of the category 4 cyclone Ita , Cooktown , far north QLD72 of 100

The hotel and museum in Cooktown lost its roof. Pic: Geoff Mackley/www.emergency.co.nz73 of 100

What's left of the West Coast Hotel, Cooktown. Pic: Peter Michael74 of 100

The roof of this Cooktown home was torn off and now lays in the yard. Pic: Peter Michael75 of 100

The house next to historic James Cook Museum, Cooktown, was flattened. Pic: Peter Michael76 of 100

A Cooktown resident's car was squashed after a tree fell down on the carport. Pic: Peter Michael77 of 100

Cooktown Health Service took a battering from Cyclone Ita. Pic: Peter Michael78 of 100

What's left of the West Coast Hotel, Cooktown. Pic: Peter Michael79 of 100

Cooktown residents venture out after the cyclone to assess the damage. Pic: Peter Michael80 of 100

Cooktown residents arrive at the local cylone evacuation centre on Friday. Picture: Brian Cassey81 of 100

Cooktown residents arrive at the local cylone evacuation centre on Friday. Picture: Brian Cassey82 of 100

Barrie Hunter lives right on the peak of Grassy Hill in Cooktown. He is preparing to bunker down with his dog Codi and a bottles of rum in this old communications bunker called Hell's Gate. Picture: Brian Cassey83 of 100

Cooktown residents arrive at the local cylone evacuation centre on Friday. Picture: Brian Cassey84 of 100

Cooktown residents arrive at the local cylone evacuation centre on Friday. Picture: Brian Cassey85 of 100

A satellite image of Sever Tropical Cyclone Ita approaching the North Queensland coast from National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) website86 of 100

Cooktown prepares for Cyclone Ita.87 of 100

Long time Cooktown resident Roy McGeffie waits out the arrival of Cyclone Ita in the 'middle pub' - the West Coast Hotel. Picture: Brian Cassey88 of 100

The quiet before the storm on the Cooktown waterfront as Cyclone Ita heads towards the coast on Thursday. Picture: Brian Cassey89 of 100

Chief banana packer at the Hope Vale Banana venture Phyllis Gibson and her grandson Dwayne Bowen try to rescue bananas from the Indigenous venture, which has been wiped out by Cyclone Ita. Picture: Brian Cassey

Ex Cairns to the COURIER MAIL 13.04.2014 Cyclone Ita - HOPEVALE - AFTERMATH - PICS BRIAN CASSEY 40 year Hopevale residents Elder Roy McIvor and wife Thelma beside the massive snapped tree next to their house ... it fell the right way and Thelna said it was Gods work.

Barrie Hunter lives right on the peak of Grassy Hill in Cooktown. He is preparing to bunker down with his dog Codi and a bottles of rum in this old communications bunker called Hell's Gate. Picture: Brian Cassey

“We hope that a fair bit of it will stand up once the sun comes out but it all depends on how much of the cane is broken,’’ Mr Sheedy said.

“This isn’t as bad as Yasi but once you get 100km/hr winds, cane will be impacted. The Herbert River is also flooding and that will cause more damage.’’

Mr Newman said reconnecting water, electricity and telecommunications would be the priority and payments would be available to homeowners under disaster relief arrangements.

The insurance council set up a hotline and declared Ita a catastrophe in order to prioritise claims.

Insurance Council chief executive Rob Whelan said damage had been reported in many communities but only a small number of claims had come in yesterday, mainly due to people not yet back to damaged homes.

“This is an emerging natural disaster situation and the full extent of the damage may take many weeks to determine,’’ Mr Whelan said. “Cyclone Ita claims will be prioritised.’’

Since early 2010, the council has declared seven catastrophes in Queensland for flooding, storm and cyclone damage, with insured losses of more than $4 billion.